Mass Effect 2: Kasumi's Stolen Memory (X-Box 360) Review

Posted by Justin Weinblatt on 05.01.2010

A new party member joins Sheppard's crew, but this time it's going to cost you. Is this master thief worth hiring?

Kasumi's Stolen Memory

Since the game's release, Mass Effect 2 fans, at least those who bought the game new, have been treated to free downloadable content through the Cerberus Network. Alas, all good things must come to an end. The newest item of DLC has come, and this time it's going to cost you. Should you plunk down your hard earned cash for the services of Kasumi?

Once you download Kasumi's stolen memory, you'll be informed that Kasumi is waiting for you on the Citadel. You'll meet her in a rather interesting scene, and then she's in your party. Like Zaeed, she'll want something in exchange for her services. At your leisure, you'll be able to take on Kasumi's loyalty mission.



Kasumi's mission is a bit different from most. Instead of running in with guns blazing, you'll have to infiltrate a private party. You'll sneak around as you try to retrieve an item that belongs to Kasumi. It's a nice change of pace, even if it does feel slightly awkward. Eventually, you'll settle into your comfort zone, taking on groups of enemies in firefights. Eventually you'll get to a boss battle, and then you're done. The whole scenario should last for about an hour.

The level of quality in the audio visual package is up to the high standards of the main quest. The mansion you explore is crafted with just as much effort as any other locale in the game. The voice acting as well is up to Bioware's standards, which are the highest in the industry. If you didn't know any better, you'd assume this was part of the main game, which is not always the case when it comes to DLC.



As for Kasumi herself, she's an interesting addition to the team. She's not quite the stereotypical thief character that she appears to be at first. Along her mission you'll get a brief and interesting glimpse into her back story. It's a nice story with a good amount of emotional punch, but it's really too brief to give the character enough depth. Unfortunately, you can't engage Kasumi in conversation on your ship like the other characters. Like Zaeed, she has a few stories she'll tell you, but you don't get the full conversation wheel treatment. Kasumi is not a bad character, or a boring one, but considering how incredibly well developed the rest of the cast is, Kasumi falls a little flat. Hopefully, Kasumi will be a but more fleshed out in Mass Effect 3.

So, in summary, what are you getting for your 560 points ($7)? You get a new party member, which gives you access to a new ability for Sheppard, and a new mission. Along the mission you'll collect a new weapon (a new SMG for those who are curious), and a couple of upgrades. You'll also get the opportunity to score some Paragon or Renegade points.



The 411- Ultimately, with DLC it all comes down to value. There's only about an hour of gameplay here. You'll also get a few new toys to play with, and of course the character. Bioware should be commended for not cutting back on the quality of this DLC, and big fans of the series will get their money's worth, but others may want to find more bang for their buck.

Graphics	0.0
Gameplay	0.0
Sound	0.0
Lasting Appeal	0.0
Fun Factor	0.0
Overall	8.0   [ Very Good ]

Screenshots
All 11 Mass Effect 2 Screenshots